Rugby League: Aston in demand: Transfer market on the move

HALIFAX have joined the tussle for the services of Mark Aston, the Sheffield Eagles and Great Britain half-back.

Aston, capped by Great Britain against France in 1991, has seemed destined all summer for Featherstone Rovers but Halifax, coached by the Great Britain manager, Malcolm Reilly, have made a late bid and are discussing a deal with Sheffield which could involve players moving in the opposite

direction in part-exchange.

Paul Bishop, Halifax' regular scrum-half last season, has flown to Australia, apparently disillusioned by Halifax's search for an alternative in his position.

Sheffield have signed the South Sydney utility back, Darrell Trindall, for next season. Trindall, who is likely to play stand-off for the Eagles, will fly to Britain as soon as his Souths commitments are completed, probably at the end of August.

Reilly has denied any contact with Souths' neighbours, Eastern Suburbs, despite Australian reports that he is a candidate for the vacant coaching position at the club.

Castleford, Reilly's former club, yesterday completed the signing of the Wakefield Trinity centre, Richard Goddard, and Leeds' reserve scrum-half, Gareth Stephens.

Castleford are set to lose St John Ellis and Mike Ford to the new Brisbane club, the Queensland Crushers, while their centre, Grant Anderson, has signed for Halifax, who, in what is rapidly becoming a Yorkshire version of musical chairs, are once more being linked with Leeds' Great Britain captain, Garry Schofield.

Widnes, who have already lost Bobby Goulding, Esene Faimalo and Paul Moriarty during the summer, as well as trading David Myers to Bradford, now expect their experienced centre, Darren Wright, to join Oldham. They are looking at Penrith's Matt Adamson as a possible overseas signing to help fill the void.

The London Broncos have agreed terms with Cavill Heugh, Rochdale Hornets' Australian prop who played previously with Halifax, Barrow and Leeds.